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Dunmorean of the Month: John Errico

If you hit the lottery and buy a baseball team, do you want your dad to be the manager?

Bernie Endino did.

Who is Bernie Endino? Why he is the fictional character in John Errico’s book, “Dad, Wanna Be Our Manager?”

Dunmore’s very own John Errico had his book published this past April by Raven Wood Publishers.

Errico, who is the financial controller for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, came up with the idea for the book while out on a car ride with his teenage daughters, Maria, 19, and Abby, 15.

“We were talking about what we would do if we won the lottery,” Errico said. “We were talking about the lottery and baseball. And then talked about owning a baseball team. Then the thought came to my head. I think I got it. I have the story idea for a book.

“I can write about a guy who wins the lottery, buys a baseball team and hires his dad to manage it.

“My dad (Johnny Errico, now 73) managed a baseball team. He managed the Schautz Stadium VFW Teener League champions in Dunmore back in 1984. It was a great team and they were back-to-back Schautz Teener League champions.

“The story I wrote is based on my dad’s team and its players. It is based on the things I remember happened when he coached. The kids, five of them, are referenced in my book. I just use different names, but it is their personalities and their stories. There were some true characters with interesting personalities on that team.

“My dad really liked the book. He picked it up and read it in two days.”

Errico, a 1986 Dunmore High School graduate, received a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of Scranton in 1990. He worked part-time for eight years with the RailRiders as an official scorer and keeping statistics on computers before taking on a full-time role this year as a financial controller.

He discussed the theme of his book.

“The story is about a guy who hits the lottery. He wants to buy a Triple-A baseball team and hire his dad as the manager. His dad says he will do it, but wants to bring in his own guys. So he does bring in his own guys and coaches. Five of those guys are based on players from my dad’s 1984 team. The stories are similar. In my book, this team goes on to win a championship.”

Errico said he enjoyed writing the book, which is selling, but it will probably be his first and last.

He thoroughly enjoyed the time he spent with the RailRiders this season.

“It was the perfect time to step in full time, with the team winning the Governors’ Cup and Triple-A National Title. It was an amazing season with the RailRiders with all of the call-ups. We just kept having new guys step in and contribute every time someone was lost or got called up. We knew there was no stopping us in the playoffs. I certainly walked into this at the right time.”

Errico certainly has a passion for baseball and writing. His book reflects that.

Errico is married to the former Elaine Danchak, a Scranton Central graduate. The couple’s daughter Maria is a Dunmore High School graduate and Temple University sophomore Spanish Education major. The couple’s younger daughter Abby is a Dunmore High School sophomore and member of the school’s marching band.